Working with students, there isn't ever a typical day. Working in the inner city ads layers to this. So if someone shadowed me for a day, I can not tell you with certainty what they would see.
CAREER
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$58,120
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+8% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors Do
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Other Job Titles Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors May Have
Academic Advisor, Academic Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Career Counselor, College Counselor, Guidance Counselor, School Adjustment Counselor, School Counselor, Student Development Advisor, Student Services Coordinator
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Check and answer emails (recruiters, students, professors), meet one-on-one with students, create designs for an event, host a career services event/workshop, take time to read news and industry articles, update social media. Network, network, network. 8 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Answer emails, edit images, update price lists, create promotions, update social media.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
- Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
- Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (61%)
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Organizational Communication, General
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Education/Teaching of the Gifted and Talented
Graduate
Counselor Education/School Counseling and...
Doctorate
Educational Psychology
Certification / License
Counselor Education/School C...
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Cultural and social/emotional sensitivity.
Know your transitional skills, know your network. Most Higher Ed Career Services positions require Master's degrees or extensive years of experience.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Middle School Students
Guidance Counselor
Participate in peer counseling groups if available.
Advisor
For them to know what all the classes they can take in high school that will make it a little easier in college. Also get a feel for what they like doing. Everyone focuses on high school kids but for me I think it all begins with middle school because that's where the youth gets lost. By high school if they are struggling it is very hard for them to keep track in high school.
If you are in middle school and you are interested in becoming a school counselor, see if you can meet with your school counselor to talk to him/her about what it is like. Ask yourself if you like listening to people talk about problems they are having, and if you want to help others. Keep your grades up, work on organization strategies, and learn to manage your time.
Research your career, find out what is needed, locate someone in the field and establish a mentor.
High School Students
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
